Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrive in Wengen

We’ll arrive independently in Wengen by train (joining instructions to be provided in your information packet).  The final leg up to the village is on a dramatic cog rail way that affords the first glimpses of the glacially carved Lauterbrunnen Valley and its legendary waterfalls. Our hotel overlooks the spectacular Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Jungfrau Mountain in a quiet part of the village. Those arriving early will have the opportunity to enjoy a self-guided walk around the village of Wengen with its views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and the Jungfrau, Silberhorn and Breithorn peaks.  We’ll enjoy a welcome drink and trip orientation, followed by a delicious dinner in the hotel.

Day 2:  Kleine Scheidegg and Grindelwald

We ride a cable car directly from Wengen up to Maennlichen for one of the classic walks of the area: the hike on the Panorama Trail to Kleine Scheidegg, the base for climbs up the next-to-impossible North Face of the Eiger (don’t worry: that’s not on our docket), and a station for the train up the Jungfrau. We’ll walk beneath the daunting face of the Eiger, one group on the moderate valley floor walk and the other on the more challenging Eiger Trail.  We’ll all attempt to find the famous windows in the wall of the Eiger used to rescue climbers and known to us from the movie “The Eiger Sanction.”  Both groups will walk to Alpiglen and then take the train to Grindelwald. We’ll have time to briefly explore this cosmopolitan resort before taking a train back to Wengen.  Tonight we’ll venture out to rustic Mary’s café for a traditional Swiss fondue dinner.

Day 3:  Lauterbrunnen Valley and Muerren

We’ll take the train down off our high mountain terrace to Lauterbrunnen and hike out the valley floor past the Staubach Falls that were celebrated in Goethe’s poetry. Our walk takes us to the extraordinary Trummelbach Falls hidden inside the mountain. From there we walk or ride a lift up to the village of Muerren and enjoy a picnic lunch assembled with products from local farms on a terrace looking across the valley. Those with energy to spare can ascend above Muerren for an adventure that combines incredible mountain views with a walk past active dairy farms.  If the weather is fine, another option during our visit is the cable car ride up the Schilthorn Mountain for spectacular views of the famous trio of mountains (The Eiger, the Monk and the Jungfrau), and, for James Bond fans, a viewing of a film on the making of “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service,” which was filmed on the Schilthorn.  We return to Lauterbrunnen from Muerren via the Grutschalp lift and then take the cog railway back up to Wengen.  We’ll have dinner in the hotel tonight.

Day 4:  Glacier Express and Pontresina

Today we take the Glacier Express across the Alps to the beautiful high Alpine resort of Pontresina.  The Glacier Express has been called the World’s slowest express, not a bad thing given the grandeur of this classic train ride.  You’ll board the train in Wengen and travel through the mountains across Switzerland.  Our hosts from the Hotel Mueller (http://www.hotel-mueller.ch) will pick us up at the train and transport us up the hill to this charming town with its Italianate flavor.  Tonight will be our first wonderful dinner in the hotel.

Day 5:  Muottos Muragl and Paradise Hut

We travel by bus and funicular to the mountain hotel of Muottas Muragl (8,048'). We hike to Alp Languard (7,421') for spectacular views of the entire Engadine Valley, including its many lakes and St. Moritz. After following the splendid balcony trail to the aptly named “Paradis” Hut (8,366’), a quaint mountain restaurant with views of the Morteratsch Glacier, we take the chairlift back to Pontresina. In the afternoon we visit the Morteratsch Glacier where we can see the signs where the glacier has receded and where we can walk up to and touch the ice.  We may have the opportunity to visit a cheese farm depending upon the production schedule.  Dinner tonight will be in the hotel.

Day 6:  Roseg Valley

Today we take a horse carriage ride into the scenic Roseg valley and a walk to a beautiful glacial lake.  At the end of the valley we’ll see the impressive Roseg Glacier towering above us.  Those choosing the moderate hike today will walk back down the valley to Pontresina.   Those up for a more challenging option will ascend a zigzag trail to the Fuorcla Surlej mountain hut (9,038'), from where we have a very nice view of the peaks of Roseg and Bernina with its Bianco Grat, one of the most famous ice ridges in the Alps.  After a rest at the hut we’ll continue our hike to Hahnen Lake and descend to St. Moritz (5,813'), where we take the bus back to Pontresina.  Those on the moderate hike, who would like to visit St. Moritz will have the opportunity to do so after their hike.  Dinner is on your own tonight, perhaps in St. Moritz.

Day 7:  Swiss National Park/Val Trupchen or Soglio/Val Bregaglia

We will choose from two wonderful outings today:  either the Swiss National Park or the village of Soglio.  If we opt for the National Park we’ll travel a short distance by train to the Trupchun Valley and walk through dense forests to Alp Trupchun. Hiking over alpine fields and meadows, we’ll arrive at Varusch Hut where an option for lunch could be polenta or any number of other specialties.  In this protected environment we may see marmots lounging next to the trail and herds of deer.  On our way to or from the Park we’ll visit Zuoz, the best preserved town in the Engadine.  Our other option is a hike and visit to Val Bregalia, birthplace and home to the renowned artist Alberto Giacometti. First we travel by Post Bus over the Maloja Pass, once used by the Romans, to Casaccia, situated in a completely different looking valley.  The more challenging option is a hike on a panoramic trail, an ancient mule track, to Soglio, a historic village perched near the Italian border on the mountainside high above the valley with a gorgeous view that was frequented by the author Rilke.  The moderate option is a walk to a chestnut grove close to the border with Italy.  This Italian-speaking enclave has the feel of a different time and place.  

Our farewell dinner tonight will likely be in the Lej da Staz restaurant, which lies adjacent to the idyllic Lake Staz between Pontresina and St. Moritz. We’ll try to get there in time to go for a swim before dinner.  The restaurant, which is also a hotel, describes itself as cozy Alpine chic and offers typical regional dishes and products.  Recently renovated, this historic restaurant and hotel were built in 1900 as a tea room.  In the 20’s and 30’s Lake Staz was considered the place to go swimming.

Day 8  

After breakfast we’ll transfer independently by train to the airport or to other destinations.

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